Author Description

This book is simultaneously affective and holistic, appreciative and valuing, experiential and transformative. Students who experience engaged learning report that they leave their classrooms knowing clearly what is expected of them and how to perform their work skillfully. In this book, authors offer specific strategies that can be used to create the space for students to get involved in service learning activities that bring together acquired knowledge, skills and abilities while increasing capacity for growth. This book is full of scenarios as illustrations for a broad audience of students and practitioners to illustrate relevant topics. Literally hundreds of students and practitioners have contributed in some way to the ideas and illustrations presented in this book. Experiences reported and illustrated in the book are drawn from the wide range of these situations often present in professional practice including social work, education, business, engineering, liberal arts, humanities, social sciences, community activism, and health care and others. Questions for deliberation and continuing conversation are intended to stimulate meaningful dialogue and provoke new thinking about relevant issues. Structured activities will help students and instructors increase utilization of engaged learning strategies. Instructions for effective use of reflective journals as a tool for learning also provided. Further readings and website information are also provided for those who wish to know more about engaged learning and related topics. Where appropriate, authors provide forms and general templates that can be adapted to a particular agency or organizations use. This book will be a valuable reference for those who desire to maximize their contributions working in professional practice, especially those students and new entrants to careers.